Emergency Essentials

If A Disaster Hit Tomorrow, Would You Be Prepared? Not Without This Gear

Equipment and Appliances

BioLite BaseCamp StoveBioLite’s original portable stove/gadget charger is on the puny side for a home survival kit, but the company’s all-new BaseCamp stove/grill (coming summer 2014) is a valuable member of any home preparedness kit. Based on the HomeStove that BioLite offers in developing countries, the large wood stove doesn’t require a liquid fuel cache, just easily found twigs and wood. Thanks to an integrated thermoelectric generator, it makes and stores electricity out of wasted heat energy, which also cuts smoke emissions to near nothing. Boil water, grill meals and charge key electronics as large as tablet computers — making this part of any emergency essentials collection.

Eton ZoneGuard+ Weather RadioWhen the weather is bearing down, you’ll want to stay ahead of it and get the latest alerts as soon as humanly possible. To help you along, the sleek Eton ZoneGuard+ includes not only a single base radio, but also wireless modules that can be placed in other rooms, up to 164 feet away. The unit comes with two modules, and additional modules can be purchased and added to the system, ensuring you never miss an important update.

Wagan e Power Cube 1500 Solar GeneratorA back-up generator will prove more than a luxury if the power goes out for an extended time. You could opt for a fuel generator, but the sun isn’t going to run out like a can of gas (we hope), and solar generators are quiet and emissions free. Available for under $1,000, the Wagan e Power Cube 1500 is a compact, all-in-one design. Simply roll it out to a sunny spot, fold out the five solar panels, and collect 1500 watts of energy for charging electronics and powering appliances as large and power-hungry as refrigerators and microwaves.

Hand Tools

Fenix TK35 FlashlightGuys usually go for the brightest, most powerful flashlight they can afford, but for a prep kit, you’ll want to pay more attention to runtime. Luckily, there’s the palm-sized Fenix TK35, which ticks both boxes with a bold marker. It has four lighting modes, letting you shift between 140 hours of runtime and a blazing stream of 900 lumens. It also has two flash modes for when you need to get someone’s attention. The TK35 is waterproof to 2 meters and can be powered by dual rechargeable li-ion batteries or four CR123A batteries.

Craftsman Bolt-On Power ToolsWhen standing in the face of imminent disaster, you may need to build things and break things down in a hurry. You’ll want to have a variety of power tools on hand to get work done. The Bolt-On series from Craftsman secures a variety of modular tools to a single battery and body. You can quickly move from sawing to drilling to filling up your tires — without pulling out every large tool in the garage.

Petzle E+Lite HeadlampDesigned specifically for emergency use, the E+Lite is a simple, lightweight headlamp that can sit on the shelf for 10 years and still have battery power to light up the room. It includes an emergency whistle, an item that FEMA suggests stocking in your kit. A flashlight is great for navigating your way around a dark house, but when you need to fiddle and tinker with both hands, reach for the E+Lite.